Ubiquitous access to FEMTO-connected network

Abstract

A system and method of enabling a mobile device to communicate with a local IP network host and an external IP network host using a femto cellular access point on a femto cellular access network. A local gateway is coupled to the femto cellular access network for receiving data packets transmitted on the femto cellular access network and for routing the data packets to one of a local IP network and an external IP network, based on a destination address associated with the data packets. The femto cellular access network includes an LTE network, an EVDO network connected to an EPC, or a WiMax 802.16e/m network connected to the EPC.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more memory mediums storing program instructions; and 
 one or more processing elements coupled to the one or more memory mediums, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to execute the program instructions to:
 generate first data packets for transmission to a terminal device having a destination address within a local IP network coupled to a femto cellular access point; 
 transmit the first data packets to the terminal device via the femto cellular access point, the first data packets being maintained in the local IP network without transmitting the data packets to a core gateway of a macro cellular network in response to the destination address being within the local IP network; 
 generate second data packets for transmission outside of the local IP network; and 
 transmit the second data packets to the femto cellular access point, wherein the second data packets comprise a destination address external to the local IP network, the second data packets being routed to the core gateway of the macro cellular network in response to the destination address being external to the local IP network. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal device includes at least one of a media player, a printer, a computer or a data storage device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first data packets are routed through a router of the local IP network to the terminal device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the femto cellular access point is configured to communicate control plane information associated with the apparatus to a mobility management entity (MME) of the macro cellular network. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the local IP network comprises a plurality of terminal devices. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the femto cellular access point provides a femto cellular access network, wherein the femto cellular access network comprises an LTE network. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the femto cellular access point is assigned an address local to the local IP network. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more memory mediums storing program instructions; and 
 one or more processing elements coupled to the one or more memory mediums, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to execute the program instructions to:
 generate first data packets for transmission to a first terminal device within a local network connected to a femto cellular access point; 
 transmit the data packets to the terminal device via a macro cellular network, the data packets being analyzed to determine that the data packets are intended for the terminal device on the local network and, based on the determining, the data packets routed to the terminal device via the local network; 
 receive second data packets from a second terminal device, the second device having a wireless connection to the femto cellular access point, wherein the femto cellular access point is configured to determine a destination address associated with the second data packets, including determining whether the destination address is a local address or an external address, and route the data packets to one of the local network or the macro cellular network, based on whether the destination address is a local address or an external address. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus device of  claim 8 , wherein analyzing and routing the data packets is performed by a node of the macro cellular network. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus device of  claim 9 , wherein the node comprises a gateway of the macro cellular network. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus device of  claim 8 , wherein the femto cellular access point provides a long term evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus device of  claim 8 , wherein the terminal device comprises one of a media player, a printer, a computer, or a data storage device. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus device of  claim 8 , wherein determining the destination address associated with the second data packets comprises determining that the destination address is a local address, and wherein routing the data packets comprises routing the data packets to the local network instead of the macro cellular network. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus device of  claim 13 , wherein routing the data packets comprises routing the first data packets to a router of the local network. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus device of  claim 8 , wherein determining the destination address associated with the second data packets comprises determining that the destination address is an external address, and wherein routing the data packets comprises routing the data packets to the macro cellular network. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more memory mediums storing program instructions; and 
 one or more processing elements coupled to the one or more memory mediums, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to execute the program instructions to:
 generate first data packets for transmission to a terminal device within a local IP network coupled to a femto cellular access point; 
 transmit the first data packets to the terminal device via the femto cellular access point, the first data packets being maintained in the local IP network without transmitting the data packets to a core gateway of a macro cellular network based on a destination address associated with the first data packets; 
 generate second data packets for transmission outside of the local IP network; and 
 transmit the second data packets to the femto cellular access point, the second data packets being routed to the core gateway of the macro cellular network external to the local IP network based on a destination address associated with the second packets. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the femto cellular access point provides a long term evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the terminal device comprises one of a media player, a printer, a computer, or a data storage device. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting the first data packets to the terminal device via the femto cellular access point comprises routing the first data packets to a router of the local IP network.